Back in December last year, Steve Bruce told how he would love to sign Robert Snodgrass for Aston Villa.

He stated that he Hull would never sell to Villa and that any interest was dead in the water.

Snodgrass is a player that Bruce knows very well from their time together at Hull.

The Scotland midfielder was subsequently sold to West Ham United for £10m.

A deal that didn't work out for Snodgrass or the Hammers, and now Slaven Billic wants him out.

They will look to get their money back on him but realistically could have to take a financial hit, Snodgrass signed a three and a half year contract.

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West Ham beat off competition from Middlesbrough and Burnley in January but he struggled to settle in London. Now newly-promoted Brighton could come in for Snodgrass and it remains to be seen if Burnley come back.

It also remains to be seen whether Villa are capable of competing in such arenas of spending.

There only hope of luring Snodgrass would be with the current constipation in the market loosening somewhat and a real exodus of players leaving Villa Park.

In December, Bruce said: “I signed Robert Snodgrass, I liked him, I paid £8m for him and if I got the opportunity I would like to have him."